1806day.year
Pike Expedition: Lieutenant Zebulon Pike spots a mountain peak while near the Colorado foothills of the Rocky Mountains. It is later named Pikes Peak in his honor.
During his 1806 expedition, Lieutenant Zebulon Pike sights a towering mountain peak near present-day Colorado, later named Pikes Peak.
On November 15, 1806, American explorer Lieutenant Zebulon Pike observed an imposing mountain in the southern Rocky Mountains during his expedition. Lacking precise location data, Pike noted the peak’s majestic presence but failed to reach its summit. The feature would later be named Pikes Peak in his honor. This sighting contributed to U.S. exploration efforts following the Louisiana Purchase. Pike’s journals spurred interest in the western frontier, attracting settlers and adventurers. The mountain became an iconic symbol of westward expansion and the American spirit. Today, Pikes Peak overlooks Colorado Springs and remains a popular destination. Its discovery marked a significant moment in mapping the American West.
1806
Pike Expedition
Zebulon Pike
Colorado
Rocky Mountains
Pikes Peak